Associated Banc-Corp recruits two Huntington executives for top posts

Associated Banc-Corp CEO Andy Harmening is hiring two former colleagues from Huntington Bancshares to fill key posts at the Green Bay, Wisconsin, company.

Derek Meyer will start Aug. 1 as chief financial officer, and Bryan Carson will start July 18 as chief product and marketing officer. 

The $35 billion-asset Associated’s longtime CFO, Christopher J. Del Moral-Niles, announced his retirement in January. Niles will step down from his role on Aug. 1, according to Associated spokeswoman Jennifer Kaminsky.

Meyer and Carson worked with Harmening at the $176 billion-asset Huntington before he became president and CEO of Associated in April of last year. 

Meyer is the corporate treasurer of Columbus, Ohio-based Huntington, and Carson is its executive vice president of deposit products, customer segmentation as well as branch and ATM distribution. The two executives will bring a combined six decades of industry expertise.

Harmening prioritized candidates who "marry collaboration and technical expertise," he said in an interview, adding that he found both qualities in Meyer and Carson. 

Meyer, 55, has over 30 years of experience in banking, both on the financial analysis side and the retail and commercial sides, and has worked the past 22 years at Huntington. Harmening praised Meyer's combination of a practical background and strong experience in handling treasury funds. 

“That is something that is paramount in the environment we’re in with inflationary pressures,” Harmening said, referring to the volatile economy and the customer uncertainty that it has fostered. In light of that, Harmening says he is focused on improving liquidity, with Meyer’s help. 

Carson, 52, has 30 years of experience in marketing, product development and analytics, with 12 years at Huntington as well as prior roles at JPMorgan Chase and MBNA Corp.

Harmening said Carson had “done an amazing job” of “understanding the voice of the customer” and delivering products through multiple channels. “That leads to a deepening of relationships and customer acquisition,” he said. 

Harmening said he seeks Carson's help digitizing the bank and launching a variety of new products. The first among them is a wealth management program aimed at customers he terms "mass affluent," or those with emerging wealth who need help with planning for retirement and major life purchases. 

Meanwhile, Associated has promoted Brent Tischler to head of transformation from executive vice president and head of retail banking. Tischler’s job will be to foster more coordination among teams as the company seeks to deepen its reach in its existing markets, Harmening said.